This is my first time overwintering. The bees in the lang are in the top deep now [wintered in 2 deeps, full]. I heard a nice hum when I rapped on the side. I can't tell by lifting whether they are too light because I just don't have a feel for that. All hives feel heavy to me, but I didn't have a hard time tipping it a bit. I don't want to feed them too early, but I don't want them to starve because I was too reluctant to feed.

It's warm now, but they're not flying much. Supposed to get cold again in a couple of days and stay cold for a while.

Would it be Ok if I waited for another couple of weeks before I dropped some candy in there? Or should I do it sooner since they're already in the top box?

not southern Indiana but, I would put it in now while you have a chance with the warmer weather. It's still winter and gonna be for while. If you think they may be light, why take a chance? We place our candy bricks on at Thanksgiving. If some run out during winter I'm covered.If they don't, we have a bunch of sugar bricks to make syrup with in the spring.

Finski you are right, but how do we see what’s in the cells when they’re covered with bees :? I sure don’t want to pull frames in the winter. Adding a candy board now surely can’t hurt anything can it? Seems like a wise course of action if in doubt.

For the record, I’m NOT feeding my hives anything after being scolded for giving my baby nucs a few honey balls for Thanksgiving. :-D

Would it be Ok if I waited for another couple of weeks before I dropped some candy in there? Or should I do it sooner since they're already in the top box?

Hard to say if it is ok to wait another two weeks.

Without blowing smoke, which happens by all the experts everytime someone mentions feeding, my best advice would be....Go ahead and place the feed on them. Nothing sucks more than losing your hives the first year, especially for something such as a lack of food, and something so easily handled.

The key of why I would not wait, is the fact that your bees are in the top box. Many times this is due to the bees feeding up through and having limited feed, while also trying to conserve energy by placing themselves where trapped heat helps them the most. I would place fondant/candy/sugar on the inner cover hole. Here is a page on feeding sugar: http://www.pennapic.org/feedingsugar.html

Good luck.

Disclaimer: I have been told that my advice, and the feeding practices mentoned above are "child's play" and that "Americans are ignorant when it comes to feeding". Please be advised that such claims if seen after this post will not be responded too. We offer the above advise without malice, ill-will, motive, ego driven agenda, or negative connotations. It is offered by us with no expectations, and your acceptance is of your free will. (signed-An ignorant American)

Thanks for the feedback so far. What has me most concerned is that they're in the top box.

I have good temps this morning, 56 degrees as I write this [before ugly weather for the next week or so] and I have help, so we're going to go in and pop the top and check the frames and see what they have left up top. My husband may be able to lift and have a better idea of how much lighter the hive is, too.

I have the candy made - all I have to do is lay it on top when ready. If I see good stores, then I can put an extra super over the inner cover and be ready to lay some candy on at the beginning of Feb if they get really light.

I would take advantage of the warm temps and put the food on now.With the very dry summer here the bees had a tough time, several of my hives have ate the entire board already.If they dont need it you can remove come spring time, if they are at top now bet they could use it.

Disclaimer: I have been told that my advice, and the feeding practices mentoned above are "child's play" and that "Americans are ignorant when it comes to feeding". Please be advised that such claims if seen after this post will not be responded too. We offer the above advise without malice, ill-will, motive, ego driven agenda, or negative connotations. It is offered by us with no expectations, and your acceptance is of your free will. (signed-An ignorant American)That is all.

:brian: :lau: :brian:

I've seen this emergency feeding with sugar now and then.

I've been wondering in what kind of winter temperatures dose this work?

Are there other things that one should do, think off or not when feeding this way?

Very strange forecast, indeed. We get crazy weather here. It just started raining - 60 degrees F. Temps will drop and by tomorrow night it's down to 18 F, with snow and sleet. Gotta love this part of the world.

I did go check the bees today. It was easy to see how much honey they had. The lang was very light on stores! I put candy bricks in the hive and some dry sugar on paper, too because they were so low. Sprayed the dry sugar like Michael Bush recommends. Bees were all over it.

I checked the horizontal hive, too. They still had some stores, but were lighter than I wanted, so I put some dry sugar on paper in that hive, too. I think they have nosema - I will start a new topic and post a pic to see what you guys think.

I'm guessing that if the weather stays cold they'll be fine until the beginning of Feb? They each have 5 lbs + sugar on their hives.